Coil winding machine



Jan- 19, 1965 L. E. FOLEY, JR., ETAL 3,166,104

COIL WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet l 74 CLL/7THfnl/entera:

org/'. 71E/ey, c/r: c/or? F Pater-5017 32 .l

Me ttorney BRA KE ca/ r' ma? START Jan. 19, 1965 E. FOLEY, JR., ETAL3,166,104

con. WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. l. 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z i o o o o FUNC005 o ov e amer caps Jan. 19, 1965 L. E. FOLEY, JR., ETAL 3,136,104

COIL WINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 1. 1958 Jan. 19, 1965L. E. FoLE'Y, JR., ETAL COIL WINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct.l. 1958 e e r ,w ef. o v FAH nvvn fm, .w www 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/ZZ//Jan. 19, 1965 Filled oct. 1. 195s United States Patent .3,366,104 Y COILWINDING MACHINE Leroy E. Foley, Jr., Schenectady, NX., and John F.Paterson, Balboa, Canm Zone, assignors to General Electric Company, acorporation oi New York Filed (let. l, 1958, Ser. No. 7 64,616 9 Claims.(Cl. 14u-92.2)

The invention described herein relates to coil winding machines and moreparticularly to a machine designed for forming and accurately Windingrandom coils for dynamoelectric machines under completely automaticconditions of operation.

Random coil Winding machines of the prior art in'- herently contain manydisadvantages andV deficiencies when considered in light of constantlyincreasing demands upon manufacturers for high quality coils at lesscost. The conventional random coil Winding machine is commonly referredto asV a spool type Winder and consists of a motor positioned to drive amandrel through adjustable belts and gears capable of providing mandrelspeeds compatible with the size ofcoil being wound. The inandrel isequipped with slots into which the turns of Wire are Wound successivelyto form separate, but connected, coils comprising the winding. As thewire is being Wound, an operator observes a mechanical counter ormanually counts the number of turns Wound in each slot during mandreloperation. When the desired number of turns is Wound in a particularslot, the wire is indexed to the nextk slot by manually moving the Wirefeeding mechanism along the length of the machine.

In view of the high level of operator attention needed and the number ofmanual steps required to be pere ice l,

' collapsible mandrel provided with slotted form blocks for Vreceivingthe wire,tisv mounted on an end of the shaft. During Yshaft rotation,the correct number of turns, of Wire is guidedV automatically into eachslot by a wire advance mechanism which is moved sequentially to theVnext slots for forming the individualscoils comprising a Winding of thetype used in dynamoelectric machines.,l

When all the coils are Wound, the machine automatically stops. VA tapereading head is driven in Vsynchronism with the collapsible mandrel, andby means of a punched and coded tape and collateral circuitry associatedwith the head and with the mechanical operating components of formed incarrying out the coil winding process, a considerableV number of errorscreep into the coil winding methods. The windings thus produced are notuniform in size, shape or quality and the output is very low because ofthe high degree of manual dexterity required for efficiently operatingand controlling the machine. Moreover, as the machine operates, not onlyis the likelihood of errors great, but since the operator is required toWork in an area involving nonshielded rotating parts, the operationaccordingly is hazardous. Y

An incidental but important adverse effect resulting from thisconstruction is that inadequate tension control means causes stretchingof the wire between the wire reel and mandrel head. This action in turncauses damage to the Wire insulation which directly affects operationof` a motor or generator after the coils are liXed in the stator orrotor cores. Also, the coil configuration is restricted by the mandrelgeometry and'removal of the coils therefrom not only involves atime-consuming task but also is unnecessarily diliicult.

It, therefore, is an object of our invention to eliminate thedisadvantages and deficiencies inherent in prior art coil Windingmachines by providing a rapid, accurate and eiiicient machine capable ofWinding coils in a minimum of time under safe and economical conditionsof operation. Y Y l Another object of our invention is to provide a coilWinding machine completely automatic in operation which utilizesselected electric circuits for controlling rotation and stopping of themandrel at any desired pointV at varyingspeeds and for accuratelylocating the desirednumber of turns in each slot and the correct numberofV coils in each winding. Y j v L Still another object of our inventionis to provide an improved wire advance mechanism utilized in accuratelyfeeding Wire into successive mandrel slots in controlled time sequence.Y s

Another object of our invention is to provide an im proved machinedesign incorporating mandrel collapsing the machine, control of thenumber of turns per slot is provided in addition to means for actuatingthe wire advance mechanism at the proper time to permit guiding of theWire into the next adjacent slot. Automatic controlv of the machine iseffective under all conditions of operation andXincludes emergency stopcircuitry, clutch-brake power supplies and control, Winding mandrelcollapsing control 'means and safety interlocks for each of these tolprotect the operator, materials and equipment and to provide a highquality product. Since a variable-speed motor is utilized for permittingWinding the coils at different speeds, the circuitry also, includesVariable braking adjustments to compensate kfor diiierences in stoppingpositions of the mandrel when operated at dif-- ferent speeds and forfacilitating stopping of the mandrel in the same position regardless ofthe speed chosen. Y

vThe subject matter which we regard as our invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thisspecification. Our invention, however, both as to organization andmethod of`operation,rtogether With further objects and advantagesthereof,

may best be understood by reference to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the rotating parts FIGURE 4 is aperspective View of. a tape reader headV with parts broken away toillustrate the arrangement of moving parts within the housing;

; FIGURE 5 shows a portion of the tape used With/the tape reader Vheadof FIGUREA including punched holes representing codedV Yinformation Vforcontrolling the mac chine;

FIGURE v6 is a View in elevation, partly in section, `of clutchcomponents associated the Vmandrel, brake and With the machine; i

Y FIGURE 7 is an end viewof the apparatus shown vin FIGURE 6; Y' YFIGURE 8 is an enlargedvieyv ofthe outer endof the tmandrelillustrating. themeans utilized in attachingvform v locks toarbor'jaws; Y Y

9 illustrates an eccentricv clamp arrangement forholding the wire inposition on the mandrel;

3,166,194 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 Y j illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FlGURE l() is a plan view, with parts'broken away, Y

showing the wire advance mechanism; FIGURE 1l is a view taken'on linesURE l; and Y IGURElZ ,isa view taken onlines12-.12 of FIG- Y URE .l l.

'Referring now `to the drawings wherein like Vreference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughoutrthe several views,there is shown in FIGUREVZI a. perspective-schematic viewof the coilwinding system while FGURE 2 illustrates a physical embodiment Vof themachine as it currently is used in Winding thertype ofV coil FIGURE -1primarily shows those mechanical operating parts involving motion andthe associated control means for actuating and synchronizing' such partsto obtain complete automatic operation inr e carrying out the coilWinding processi Generally,Y the system consists of a variablespeedmotor driving aV coil e l receiving mandrel through a magneticclutchand` brake. A power take-oi shaft permanently geared with themain11a-i1. of FIG-j Y and the flange with six in ordertoV permitadjustingthe .Y

mandrel on thel shaft within angular limits of 9.

The mandrel comprises a pair of parallel housings 66 Y each of which isequipped with openings on one end for receiving a serrated eccentric 67Soperated by`a handle Y"itl and used for securing a loose 'end of thewire in posi- Y tion prior to commencement offthe Winding operation,

mandrel shaft supports a plurality vofcams and termi-j.

nates inla drive pulley utilized'in moving operative parts in a tapereader head, which is a condition responsive codes.

the head at a'predetermined rate and in doing so energizesv the `severalcircuits for completelyv Vcontrolling machine operation.

Referring more specically toFIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a table 22supporting Vthecoil winding machine 23 and a motor 24 kmounted beneaththe table but connected with a -drivejgear by a rubber belt 26.V Themotoriscontrolled by aY regulator 27 having a handle 2S selectivelyoperable ,toV a number of diterent positions 'for turning thedriveshar't 29; and itsdirect connected mandrel Sllat any one of aplurality of speeds. The table also includes palm start buttons 31 andfoot pedals 32 utilized in controlling various operative parts ofmachine* I v j 'As illustrated'in FIGURE '6,' the gear -25 is equippedwith a -cavity `of sutcient depth to contain Vthe operative parts of a'clutch 33 used for coupling motor.24 to the drive shaft 29. lThepclutchis ofea conventional'eiectrodevice. .The tape shown insertedfin the headcontains'V punched holes representing vcoded"information and in-f cludeschannels respectively servingas start, run andstop Since the reader headis synchronized with man-V drel shaft movement, the'tape is caused to,move throughV "The other endjofhousingd terminates in the ange 62 andis designed to rotate therewith..A

A pair of collapsible arborjaws 72,97supporting coil-Y receivingf'ornjrrblocks 90, is connected to the housings 56 by a plurality ofpairsof` pivoted levers "I8 and 8l).

` As indicated in FIGURE 6, ythe arbors .are designed for 4 collapsingmovement to the left asshownl by the arrows.vr As illustrated in FIGURES7V and, 8; eachof the arborV jaws 72 is of Tc'onguration and isequippedwitha f spring-loaded plunger 82- actuated by a leverV`84'removplunger-82 which locks the block in position after installationon vthe arbor jaws. "The block 90 is detachably 7 Vsecuredto the angeportions of .the arbor Vjaw by a cooperatingilange556, such that theform block can be Vslid longitudinallyin position and locked therein bymeans of'plun'ger'l. As illustrated Vin FIGURE 8, in

Vorder to provide for winding coils of diierent diameters intermediatespacers 9S c'anrbe used for effectively increas-V ing the distance ofthe surfaceV of the spacerblocks from Vvtliecenter of th'e'mandrel.These spacersfare likewise equipped with plungers 1%0 having anactuating arm 102 and flange portions 164 forsecurely positioning andlocking the spacers to the mandrel jaws. Flange 106 is j then utilizedfor receiving the space blocks as in the man- Vner previously described.vCoilsotfthe type designed to Y `be .formed by the machine disclosed inthis application are useful in small size motors and generatorswhereinVY Y VVa' multiplicity of wires are positioned in eachy slot .ofa

magnetic type and includes` a coil` 34` supported in a house ing k3Swhich is spaced from clutchplate normally biasedV to anon-engagingposition. Studs 38 are threadably engaged with the drive gear and serveto support clutchplate biasing springs 40 and to permit slidable,

stator magnetic core. Such coils comprising the stator winding arecommonly referred to as a random winding` in orderto. distinguish thiswindingfrom formed coils 1 ofthe bar type which are used in the largersize machines movement ofthe clutch plate thereon during-clutchopera- Ytion. Bearings 42 are positioned between the 'drive gear i and the shaft2 9 to permitsmootht'andiuninterruptedmovement of thegear thereonwhen-the Yclutch is not. engaged However, upon lenergization of coilV3:4',- the' clutch plate 36 is drawn into contact'with the housing 35vtherebytransmitting power from the motor and ldrivev gear through thestuds 38, plate 36 and housing 35 tothe shaft for operation of mandrelattached 'to the opposite end thereof. l v I Y The brake consists of acylindricalshell 48 attached rotates withhousing 35 andfshaift129.,`However, `v`upon Venergiaation of coil 574, thejbralrefplate*isa-drawnintroV engagementvwith shell .thusiprovirding lthe. necessaryfrictionalf force for stopping rotation of the shafhjf a Y v'Thethe'rend olkshaft'Zl` terminatesin a spindle VGil e .having a ange62supporting thecpollapsible mandrel'll. f The spindle f equipped withtwenty `bolt-receivingI holes and 'is Vcommonly referred to as a formwound coil or e winding. It will be apparent that the invention is'notVrestricted to forming windings useful only in motors and generators.`

As mentioned Y lapsing movement in the direction indicated by thearnecessary to remove .a coil after it has Abeen wound in` the spindleilange 6?. Vwhich isintegrally connected with the parallelkhousing'slg'is equipped with a cylindrical and outwardly protrudingportion 10S having its outer end `attached to a pu'shrod 110 which Visconnectedfat 112 to to a second housing 50 by means of bolts or'rsimilarse-Y curing means 52. vTheY shell encloses a brake coil 54 and a portionofstuds 56 which are threaded into the housing'V *35.V `These studs 56likewise support abrake plate r57 .l

` biased to a disengaged positionkbysprings 53." When the" brake is notapplied, it will 'bessen that YtheplategS? when thefpushrod is actuated,results'from theunitjluepo-lY Y Y sition'of 'levers '78 .and 80,. In theopen position,- levers 7Sk are located slightly over top center. Theslight horizon--V tal `coxnponent'oi forceresulting from the"verticalforce when the coil wires arewrapped around thearbor, holds theslots formed on vthe peripheral surface of the space blocks. In'order toobtain such collapsing movement;

a doublefactingrpiston' 114 which is'positioned in a rotatable cylinder116. Conventional four-way air valves (not shown) areV connectedwith theVcylindrical housing 116to permi'tthe'suplying and'ventingofair fromopposite'sides oh thevgpiston and thusV achieving togand-fro actuatingrrfnovernent ofthe pushrod, `which in turn;`imparts force'. l tothe.arbor jaws for moving themV to either a closed or open.position.` Thisaction, obtainable by the arbor jaws above, theV mandrel ris adapted foreol-l It'will be evidentrthat collapse ofY the arbor isl the arbor jawsagainst a stop 81 thus preventing` collapse of the arbor. When the arboris collapsed, the levers 73 are substantially horizontal, but areprevented from assuming la perfect parallel position by the jaws 72which bear against housing 66. ln the open position, levers S@ are solocated and are of such length that they incline at an angle towards theclosing direction of jaws 72. These levers 8? are anchored to slidingblock 108 to which the pushrod is connected. Y

When the pushrod is actuated and arbor jaw movement in a closingdirection is initiated, the horizontal component of force in levers Si?is much greater than that existing in levers 73, so that levers 7Spass-over top center and cause jaws 72 to move towards each other andsimultaneously away from their stops 8l. Asthe jaws approach each other,the angle between the planes of levers '78 and 8@ becomes less andlessuntil at the com-V pletely collapsed position, levers Si? are at agreater angle from the horizontal than levers 78, which is justsui'icient to provide a slight collapsing or unbalanced component offorce. Therefore, the resultant unbalanced force becomes less and lessas the arbor collapses. Because of this unique relationship between thelevers, the resultant force moving the jaws is large at the beginning ofmovement where it is required, and small at the end where it is notrequired. A benecial advantage resulting from this construction is thatinjury or damage to objects, such as a finger, is not possible in theevent it is inadvertently caught between the collapsing arbor jaws. Themaximum amount of force applied to the jaws occurs in a horizontaldirection when there is little or more movement of. the jaws inwardlytoward each other, while the force available for a compressing action onany object is very small when the jaws are in a substantially closedposition; This inward movement of the jaws releases the tension in coilswound in slots of the space blocks, and when the jaws are completelycollapsed, removal of the winding is easily accomplished. Vhen air isintroduced into the opposite side of the piston to obtain opening of thearbor jaws, a slight unbalance of force only is necessary to effect suchmovement. Obviously, the speed of action and the force imparted to thearbor is regulated by adjusting the volume and pressure of airintroduced into the cylinder.

In order to provide for mechanical power necessary for actuating themechanical operating parts, a take-olf shaft 118 is connected to themandrel drive shaft 29 through a pair of helical gears 120 and 122.These gears are positioned within a housing Si? and are bathed in oil ina conventional manner. The shaft supports an internal cam 124 and threeseparate but identical cams 126, 128 and 13@ and a drive pulley 134associated with the tape reader head 136. The gears 126 and 122 have alzl ratio and it therefore will be seen that each of the cams and thedrive pulley to the tape reader head all rotate 'at the same speed asthe mandrel drive shaft 29.

The tape reader head 136 is of conventional construction and isidentified as Model 2 by the Commercial Controls Corporation, Rochester,New York. As previously indicated, the tape reader head is a conditionresponsive device and serves the function of preparing the circuits'foractuating mechanical and electrical parts to obtain starting, runningand stopping of the machine. It also controls other circuit componentsfor winding a predetermined number of turns of wire in each slot on themandrel, and for successively shifting the wire being wound from oneslot to the next adjacent one at an exact period of time.

The yreader head comprises a housing 138 which includes a plurality ofpins 14?, totaling eight in number, and are adapted for movementupwardly out of the casing to the position shown in FIGURE 4. They areactuated by an arm 142 equipped with a cam follower 144 riding on a cam146 attached to a shaft 143 associate with the drive pulley 134. Thepins are spring mountvhead. Gbviously,

certain circuits energized, as

shaft 11S rotate, shaft 148 likewise will rotate'at the same` speed andcause the lever arm 142 to move upwardly for each revolution of the mainmandrel shaft.V Since all of theV eight pins are actuated by lever,142', if av tape does not appear in the reader head, all ofthe pinswill be moved to the up position as shown by pins in FIG- URE 4. If atape is positioned `;in the reader head, onlyV those pins will appearwhich can protrude through openings provided in the tape. Theseopenings, placed in the tape in a predetermined fashion, are the codes.The modification made to the conventional tape reader head purchased isthat of includingthe lever and camV arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 4,in addition to a solenoid B which is used for moving the lever 142upwardly and thereby causing the pins to be retracted.

Without the solenoid, the pins would appear in an up position and itwould not be possible to insert the tape. The tape adapted for use withthe tape reader head is also commercially available and codedinformation can be punched into it.

The tape shown in FIGURE 5 has pinholes or apertures representing astart code, run codes and stop code, and longitudinal transversepinholes used for advancing thetape through the tape reader head 136.The start, run and stop code pinholes total eight in number and arepunctured along the width of the tape, is referred to as a channel. VAsillustrated in FIGURE 5, channels 2 and 7 .represent thestart code,channels 3, 4, 5 and 6 as run codes and channels 1 and 8 as a stop code.The apertures 152 running lengthwiseof the tape are engaged by pinpoints154 for moving the tape through the a greater orlesser number ofchannels and codes may be used.

When the tape is placed in the tape reader head 136 the Vstart code isaligned with holes through which pins 140 "are adapted to protrude. Asdescribed hereafter, all of the eight reader head pins are movedupwardly, but only pins 2 and 7, representing the start code, will gothrough the aligned pinholes in the tape. tors in the control circuitryof the machine. Since the reader head is directly connected to themandrel shaft 29, the pinpoints 154 are arranged to advance the tapelone step, that is, from one aperture 152 to the next aperture, for eachmandrel shaft revolution. Each step therefore, represents one turn ofwire in each mandrel form block slot, and the number of turns of wirecomprising each'coil in each slot is controlled directly by the numberof apertures 152 punched longitudinally in the tape. After the tape hasmoved a suicien-t distance in the reader head to align the run codepinholes 3, 4, 5 and rwith pins 14), the latter are again movedupwardly, the tape is read and described hereinafter, to move the wireadvance mechanism to the next form block slot. The above steppingprocess is then repeated with the number of turns of wire being wound inthe second slot in accordance with apertures 152 in the tape. When thiscoil is wound, the process is repeated for moving the wire advancemechanism to the third slot, and so on, until the tape reads the stopcode which energizes certain cir- Y cuits for stopping the machine. Y

'into the next adjacent slots. As indicated in FIGURE 2, the wireadvance mechanism is slidably positioned in a housing 158 and is adaptedfor movement longitudinally thereof as indicated by the arrows. Thehousing 158 is and each pinhole They close certain contacfor theprescribed number of turns, the

oscillate the'links 162 and 168 in a to-and-fro direction.

Vrack forwardly a distance equal to the width lled with oil suppliedthrough a pipe 160 for bathing the operating yparts in oil.

Referring more specilically to FIGURES l0,l l1 and v internal cam 124 onshaft 118 and formed on Ythe upper surface thereof. Bosses 172 are aixedto opposite side walls of the housing 158 and supf port crankshafts 174which are connected to guide plate 176 for housing'the plate supporting.pawl 170. Each revolution of the cam thereforeroscillates the pawlplate in the direction shown by the arrows in FIGURE 1l. A solenoid1.178, mounted exteriorly of the housing, is

equipped with a plunger 180 connected toV an arm 182 which is directlyconnected lto the crankshaft 174. The adjustable wire guide 184comprises a part of the wire advance mechanism and is equipped with aslide plate 186 adapted to ride in a pair of V-shaped guides 188 securedto a wall of the housing by means of bolts 190 or similar securingmeans. Rack 192 is secured to the underside of the slide plate and isadapted for movement in unison therewith. As illustrated in FIGURES l0and 11, the

single unit comprising the slide plate, rack and adjustable wire guide,is adapted for movement from a position shown in dotted lines on theleft side of the figures, and. corresponding to that position where thewire ispinitially wound on the mandrel, to the position shown in fulllines in the center of the figures where it has reachedits extreme pointof travel and completion of the coil winding has been accomplished.

The wire advance mechanism is designed to move in steps or stages andthrough ay distance equal to the width of the slots in the mandrel formblocks. It will be evident that when the wire advance mechanism isplaced in a position to guide wire into the iirst slot of the mandrel,the pawl 170 will be aligned with a mating slot in the rack, such as theone indicated at 194 in FIGURE l1. During operation, after wire has beenguided into the first slot internal camY will During each revolution ofthe mandrel the pawl will-not engage any one of the slots 194. However,when the desired number of turns is reached in the first slot and at atime when the Wire should be guided into a second mandrel slot, solenoid178 is energized to move the pawl upwardly into engagement with a slot194. During the next revolution of the cam 124, the engaged pawl movesthe of a mandrel slot by the oscillating action of cam 124. As the lever168 falls oi the raised portion of the cam, the solenoid isde-energized'and the pawl then drops out of position thus leaving therack in a xed position until the predetermined number of `turns iswrapped in the appropriate mandrel slot, at which time, theabove-described action is repeated and the rack again moved to permitthe guiding of wire into the third mandrel slot. In order to retain therack in its preset position, a lever 198 having a ball 200 on lone endis biased to an upward position by spring 202 supported on a standrigidly aflixed to the housing. Since the lever is'spring loaded, it ispermitted to ride easily from one slot to the next when the rack ismoved by the action of pawl 170. ,Y

The housing 166 further encloses a bar 204 threaded into a hollow rod206 mounted in an upstanding plate in the housing. A spring S is biasedbetween two discs 209 which serve to compress the spring to a degreesufficient to permit normal operation of pawl 170 unless the leverarrangement becomes jammed. Since link 162 is -pivoted on the springhousing, the latter imparts flexibility :to kthe systemso that any ofthe parts jam during operation, such exibility will prevent damagingofthe parts. When any jamming action is clear, the slide automaticallyresets itself for further and Ycontinued operation. Because oftheadjustability features incorporated in the spring housing, the rack andpawl arrangement also can be adjusted to obtain the desired degree offit therebetween. j Referring now to the circuits used in controllingoperation of the various machine parts, it will befseen that -theVsystem is supplied with 220 volt, 3 phase, 60 cycle power through amain switch 220 and contactors 222 to the motor speed regulator 27. Theregulator may have anyV desired number of speed steps compatible withthe motor design or D.C. voltages may be used for accommodating a,D.-'C,motor; A step-down transformer 226 reduces the voltage to llO volt A.C.for operating the wire advance mechanism solenoid 178, the solenoid forthe actuating pins in the reader head and the solenoid for the fourwayair valve controlling collapse of the mandrel. The remaining circuitelements such asY the brake and clutch and relays shown in the bottomportion of FIGURE l, are supplied with D.C. voltages through a full waverectier 22S.

Various contactors designated by letters A through H are enclosed bydotted lines with the reader head thus showing that these contactors arewithin the reader head housing. As previously explained, spring loadedpins 140 are connected to operatev the contactors A through H and aremoved by cam follower lever 142 to the up position during eachrevolution of the mandrel. When a coded, punched tape is inserted in thehead, any pins aligned with tape openings will protrude therethrough,and in doing so, close their associated contacts. The pincontactorarrangement is well known as is incorporated in thecommercially-available reader head.

The operation of the coil winding machine-and function of the electricalcomponents used in control thereof is as follows: The position oftheelectrical and mechanical parts shown inFIGURE l is that correspondingto the condition where the main switch is closed andthe motor isrunning.

When the main switch 220 is closed, solenoid 230 is energized throughmotorv overload protective devices and ,closes contactors 222 forsupplying power to the motor. Movement of handle 28 to a desired startposition on the speed regulator starts the motor.l The secondary of thetransformer supplies llO volt A.C. power through lines 1, 3 and' Zitothe wire advance mechanism solenoid 17S through contacts 232 and 234 `ofthe shaft mounted cams. This solenoid circuit is not energized, however,since reader head contactors C, D, E and F are not closedin the returnline 2 of the transformer secondary. A rectifier 236 in circuit with thecam operated switches supplies D.C. power yfor picking up relay L7 andsealling in its contactors as shown, return to the secondary being madethrough line 4. A.C. power is supplied to full wave rectifier 228through line 5 for furnishing steady ,ll-C. power to the relays. A.C.power is also supplied from 1 through closed contactors of relay L1 andklines 6 and 7 respectively to the mandrel control foot switch in the airsolenoid circuit and to the solenoid in the tape lreader head.

The mandrel arbor jaws 72 can be actuated selectivelyr reader headsolenoid is to move reader head pins 140 downwardly to permit insertionof the tape. When the tape is inserted, reader switch 250 is closed bythe tape and upondeenergization of the solenoid,rthe pins arepernormally open `palm start buttons 31 and through 9'to emergency stopswitch 242 and emergency reset contactors 244 to energize relay L6through lines 1li, 11 and 4. Normally, the brake is applied tothemandrel drive shaft and can be released only by pushing the brake footswitch to the open position. This facility is made available to permitmanual rotation of the mandrel to various positions without using themotor. In normal operation, brake actuation is under control of thecircuit elements. With the machine in a static condition, the brake isapplied through a circuit including line 5, rectifier 22S, closedcontactors of L1,`brake foot switch, lines 12 and 13 and motor speedregulator contactors 4' and 5 (or parallel circuit including camcontactorsV 246, line 14 and motor speed regulator contactors 1', 2 orV3'), line 15 and return through the brake coil and line'16` to therectiiier 228.

With the circuit elements energized` as above, the palmstart buttons 31are depressed to commence the coil winding operation. This closesl acircuit from recti- Y VVtier 238, palm switches, line 17, wire advancemechanism limit switch 248, reader switch 2541 which has been closed bythe tape, closed contactors of L3 and L4 and energizes L1 and L1Arelays. If the wire. advance mechanism rack 192 is not` in a positionopposite the rst slot of the'mandrel relays L1 and L1A will not seal inbecause switch 24S will open Vthe circuit. Likewise, if a tape is not inthe reader head, switch 250 will remain open and prevent energization ofL1 and L1A thus keeping the brake applied tothe machine andde-energizing the clutch. i i

Upon energization of L1, its top switch bar opens the brake foot switchcircuit which de-energizes the brake coil S4 and prepares the mandrelfor operation.l Its lower switch bar opens the contactors in the readerhead solenoid circuit, de-energizing the solenoid therein and permittingthe pins 140 to'move up, read the tape and close contactsV B and G whichcorrespond to the start code of channels '2 and 7 punched in the tape.The now closed upper contactors of L1 seal in a circuit around the palmstart switches through linef'18, closed L4 andtLS contactors, andtheemergency stop switch 242. Should it be necessary to de-energize thesystem, emergency stop switch 242 can be pushed to the open position forde-energizing relay L1 and L1A in circuit therewith.VV The contactorsnow closed by the lower switch arm complete a circuit from the top ofrectifier 228 through Aline 19 `closed L5 and L1 contactorsline. 20,variable `resistor 252 'and the clutch, thus energizing itandcom'mencing rotation of the mandrel. Y

When L1A seals in, its upper set of contactors pro-f vides D.C. `powerfrom rectier 2,38, reset switch, L6,

' L7 and L1A contactors for subsequently energizing L3 relay.v L3 lowercontactors in the palm4 switch circuit, which is open whenthe buttonsare released, are open with no effect on the circuit. Closing of the L3upper contactors completes a parallel circuit with L7 and L1A contactorsfor keeping L3 relay energized. A

The reader head has conventional parity checking facilities wherein ,ifVan odd numberpf holes in .thetape are read, as distinguished fromtheeven number punched in the tape, a plurality of contactors, representedby the single contactor 251, are closed ina certain pattern inaccordance with the number of holes to complete a circuit to pick up L4relay whose contactors are in the L1 v and L1A vrelay circuit. Openingof the latter will cause de-energization of the clutch and applicationof the brake Vfor stopping the machine. The lower contactors of L1A f l@solenoid, pins 2 and 7 of the start code read the tape and close theirassociated contacts B and G which pick up L2 relay by way of closed L6contactors, reset switch and rectifier 23S;

With the elements thus conditioned as described above,

out, closing its upper contacts which pick up relay L3 i through theclosed upper contacts ofrLlA. Opening of L3 lower contacts, opens thepalm switch-Ll-LIA circuit which normallywould actuate the clutch andbrake to inoperative positions. However, if the tape was properly readand L2 picked up as described above, L1 and L1A remain sealed in with noeect on the machine.

Assuming the tape has been properly read and pins 140 retracted, themandrel continues to turn and wire is guided in the iirst'slotto formthe rst coil of the Winding. Since belt 134 drives the reader headmechanism at the same speed as'the mandrel, pins 154 will advancethejtape a space equal tothe distance between adjacent apertures 152 inthe tape for every revolution of the mandrel. If the tape has sixapertures', indicated by 152, in it, six turns of wire will be wound inthe iirst'slot. The tape will'continueto move until tape channelslia, 4,5 and 6 appear over pins 14d. vWhen this occurs, these pinsA Uwillprotrude through the corresponding pinholes, and in so` doing, closetheir associated contacts, C, D, E and F. Simultaneously with thereading of the tape, the cams 126 and 12Src1ose their contacts`252 and234 thus completing a circuit through the pawl solenoid 178 and normallyclosed limit switch 254i. When this occurs,`the pawl `solenoid moves thecrankshaft 174 (FIGURES 10-12) upwardly Vto cause pawl 17@ to engagerack 192. Continued rotation of shaft 118 causes the camfollow'er 162and levers 16S to advance the wire advance mechanism forward 'one notch.This distance `corresponds with that necessary to cause the wire to bemoved into the secondV slot and thereby start winding of the secondcoil. Cam 146 inthe reader head (FIGURE 4) iis-'positioned to betimed'with'carns 124, 126'and 123 such that when the wire advancemechanism is' approximately in the position to permit wire to enter thesecond slot, the reader head cam follower is falling and therebyretracting pins 140 from the tape.. Simultaneously, cams 126 and 128start openingtheir associated contactsj'to drop `outpawl solenoid 178and thus effect reverse movement of crankshaft* Y174 and consequent*disengagement.of the pawl with the rack. When the function' served bythese parts'is com'- pleted, the mandrel. will continuefwinding a numberof turns of Wire in the second` slot in accordance with, the

number of apertures 152 punched in the tape.' When that predeterminednumber vis lreach'ed,`the tape reader head again reads the run code and,advances the wire'to Vthe third slot,` and soon, as described above.VThe s'pac- Y 'Y K ing between tapechannels 3, 4, 5 and 6 along thelength prepare the circuit vfor reception of a signal in the event ofthe tape determines the number of Yturnsvvound in.; each slot, and thenumber 'of appearances of channelsfla,

4, 5 and 6 determines the number of coils wound inVY the slots Ytocomprise the complete winding.

After all the run codes are readY and coils Vwound in the several slotson the mandrel, asthe Wire reaches the end of the last turn forthe lastcoil, stop code channels 1 and 8 are read by the tape. Their associatedcontacts A and H close, thus energizing and sealing Vinrelay L5 in 1 Ythe circuit including `closed L6 contactors andV the fernergency resetswitch. Since-'the lowest L5 contactorsV are in the L1 and L1A relaycircuits, opening thereof del-ener- .l vgifzes L1 and L1A coils, thuscle-energizing the clutch,l and Vdrel will stop. When fthe photoder/'ige scans-it v.'

venergizing the ,brake to stop'mandrel operation. This circuit includesthe rectifier 238, emergency stop switch,

.closed LS, L4, Ll, L2 contactors, L and LlA re'- lays andline el.Opening of the middle L5 cont'actors stopped in the desired position.YStopping ofthe mani drel at a desired angular position is accomplishedby man-V ual adjustment of Vrheostats associated vvithtcontactorsV 1',2', 3', 4 or 5'.v` These latter contactors are controlledby 5Willactuate the correspondingcontactors'1' through 5'( to provide forapplication of regulated power to the v the appended claims,theinvention may be practiced other- Y wise than Aasl specificallydescribed.

Y speed regulatorZT such that selection ot speeds 1 through brake. Poweris applied to brakeat all times except when the mandrel is rotating.VThelangular stopping position f of the vmandrel at diierent speeds isselected by regulating the amount of current'supplied kto the brake coilthrough the rheostats'.

angle after application of power, andtheretoreetfectively fcoast. Thegreater the power, ithequiclrer Ythe 'man1 L2, L3 and L5 relays.`Closing` of L5 contacto-rs again closes .a circuit to L6 relay Yfor''picking it up' and it then serves as a reset `Application of smallamounts of Y Y power willY permit the mandrel to rotate through a'largerL6v finallyY dropsl out, it de-energizes devicerfor theltap'e readingcircuits. Y ToV VWhen the first hole appears, the photo device. engagestheV wire adv-ance mechamsm and causes -it to wind wire in the nextslot. he photo device is moved mechanically or electrically on ytothenext radial line, and so on, until thermachine completes the windingcycle.

' it therefore'is to be understood that within the scope of Y Whatweclaim as new and'desne tofsecure Patent of the United States is:

l. A coil'v/inding machine for'winding random wound coils comprising amotor selectively engageable with a drive shaft supporting a mandrel,said mandrel comprising arms movable between 'anV extended and collapsedVposition and having wire receiving means Von the arms for receivingwireutilized in forming coils comprising a win-d-r ing, a mechanismmounted adjacent said mandrel for guiding wire into said receivingmeans, and a device connected with the mechanism and respohsivettochanges in a component -associatedtherewith for controlling the numberof tunns ofy wirewound in each coil land the movement of the mechanismlongitudinally ofthe mandrel.

remove the wire from the mandrel, lthemandrel control footswitchisdepressed `for energizing the air solenoid connected withthe four-wayair valve. Introductiongot air to one side of: the piston Maand ventingof air from the other side causes the pushrod 110 to be. mo ved `inadirection to the Vleft as shownin FIGURE 6, thus causingV the arborjaws 72 to moveto thefleft and thereby collapse.Y The e'ccentricallyYmounted wheel is movedi by:

handle 70 toa' position to permit removal of yvire'from its lockedposition and theu wound A coil can then bere-1 moved fromthe'mandrel'space blocks.

Y To commence Aa new operation, the wire advance mechv anismis pulledback to a start position opposite Vs1ot. .1

in the ,mandrel thereby closing limit switch' 248 toV com-f`A` plete thecircuits for another operation'. Inorder; to move the mandrel from -itscollapsed to an extended position for receiving the wire, it is onlynecessary to depress the ymandrel controlV foot switch ywhichenergizesl'the airsole#v f :noid for causing the vair pistonto movegthepushrod;l to

v the iight, and thereby draw thearbor jaws and attached mandrel withit. 'The tape is'resetin the readerfhead in a position where the startcode is placedabvethepins: f adaptedzto protrude upwardlyand throughthetape. @Op- 2. A coil Winding machineforwinding random wound Y Y coilscomprising a ,variablevspeed motork selectivelyY en,

gageablewith a shaft'supporting airnandrel,r arms in said-Vmandrelmovable between extended and collapsed'positions, and Vmeansonsaid arms equipped with slotsv for receiving Wire adapted toA be Woundtherein for forming erationlof the machine andvthefc'oilwindingproces'sis Q Y then initiated V,aga'inrby depressing 'thepalm'start switches. In viewofthe above, it fwill be evideht'that'manymodif ications and'va'riation's are possibl'e'indight of the aboveV .1

teachings; )Forexample,y anylrindfof control device capale 'of servingthereaderhead functions V'may be used with.:

the ,systemfior'energizing theseveral circuits. Afflinear coilscomprising a Winding, a wire guide and advance' .mechanism-positioned`adjacent said mandrel Iand movable Vlongitudinallyy thereof forfguidingwire sequentially into the,A

various mandrel slots and a condition responsive devicev mechanicallyYconnectedfwith said shaftarnd electrically connected with saidwireadvancezmechanism,'and means f V,in said vcondition responsivedevice sensitive to disposiV vtion of a component associated therewithfor counting the number. of rev'nluftions` of said'sha'fty`whichcorresponds g exactly withthe'number of. turns of wire .woundinsaid-v "mandrel slots, saidrneans being u'rtliereliective in causingelectrical actuation of said-wirefadvance mechanism forv` eectingmovement thereof toa next slot when the'desired k-number of turns havebeen` wound in thepreviou'sone.

' 3; (A coil Winding machinefor winding random wound'v Acoils comprisinga variable speed motor selectively en-A gageable with sa, driveshaftrsup'pcpnrting amandrel on one` end thereof; slots onV saidlmandrel-,for receiving wire*y arranged to be wound therein fon stormingthe coils of a y winding, a Ymechanismv mounted ladjacent said` mandrelrfor guiding wire intc'lnftheV various slots, jsaid mechanism plateengageable by va motion transmittingdevice, -a second shaftconnectedvvithtsaididrive/ shaftandbeing j i Yequipped with acam, acamtollowerv associated lwith said motori, for examplmmay be used inlieu of the air-actuated 1I pistonV controlling collapsing.,v movementof the mandrel or in lieu of thewireadvance mechanism rior rnovinggthet,Vwire from'one mandrel slot ,to thesnext 'adjacentrone.

l Arnoditiedreader head consists of-a balcelite orcar'dboarddisc whichis gearedto thewindin'g head infaman- Y *ner to rotIGflso turn perrevolutionof .theVmandreL One l, Y'

completefrevolutionof theV discfrepre'sentsthe maximum y i' .r numberofturns Itobe woundin a given slot. VA conven- Y tional photosensitivedevice, such as aphotocell'g".photo-V diode, photo'-transistoror thelike, is rnountedb ehind`theV j,

, discon Va'ratchetpositioning mechanism"whi`ch moves. the fphotodevicelaterally acrossthe disc in steps.V Each step' corresponds `to one slotpitch.k The disc is equipped/With Y' Y yradially alignedholes formedinconcentric planes having.

different radii. jThe angularQsp-acing-of the holesjdeiines 1 Qdenes thenumber of slots to be wound; YAs the mandrel rotates, :the disc `tisrotated at a corresponding speed and en the'k machine is operating., Y

" .the number of turns to be counted and tlie radial spacingA f Vcam andconnected with said'motion ytransmitting device sotthat said device iscaused" to oscillateV one cycle for ,everyV revolution oi the drivesha-:Enfand Ia lcondition-refsponsive device connected'for-'actuation by.said-,second f shaft and electrically connected'with said mechanismtorcontrolling the numbereof `turnsoftwire wound'ineach "slot and forcontrolling the number of times the wire' ad- A. 4Vance mechanism ismoved longitudinally of the mandrel therebyirdetermifnin'g the numberfofcoils comprising the.

winding.'

' 4. Aeon winding' machine for Winding random wouiidf coils comprising avariable speed. motor selectively en'- gageable with adrive shaftsupporting a mandrel on one end thereon? Vslots -inr the mandrel forreceiving a predetermined number of turns of wire in each slot for ormiing a'plurality ocoils comprising a winding, a wi'reg'uide andadvancemechanismgpositioned adjacent saidmandrel.'V

and movableaxially ofl the mandrel for shifting the wire from' one slot'to the nextV adjacent s lotfafter vthe prefdetefrminedfnumberoiturnspof wirehavebeen wound ,thereingrapower talre-oi shaftconnected'with a condition by -Letters i Y 13 responsive device, acomponent having coded information therein representing the number ofturns desired to be wound in each of said slots and the number of slotsadapted to have wire wound therein, means connecting said component withsaid condition responsive device such that the connection between saidpower take-olf and said condition responsive device causes saidcomponent to be moved through said device and in so doing control theamount of time that Wire is being guided into any one slot, and controlmeans interconnecting said condition responsive device and said wireadvance mechanism yfor actuating the latter when it is desired to movethe Wire advance mechanism from one slot to the next slot and therebyshift the Windin g of wire therein.

5. A coil winding machine for winding random wound motors comprising amotor selectively engageable with a drive shaft having a mandrelsupported on one end thereof, form blocks on said mandrel having slotsadapted to receive Wire therein for forming a plurality of coilscornprising a winding, a power take-oil shaft permanently geared Withsaid drive shaft and arranged for rotation in a direct ratio therewith,cam means mounted on said power take-oit shaft, a Wire guide and advancemechanism positioned adjacent said mandrel and arranged for movementlongitudinally thereof for winding wire into said slots sequentially,said wire advance mechanism comprising a plate having an upstandingmember through which the wire is guided to said slots, a rack having aplurality of slots therein mounted on said plate, a pawl connected withsaid cam means and of a size suiiicient to fit into the slots of saidrack, said pawl being positioned below said rack so that upon upwardmovement thereof, the pawl is permitted to engage one of said rack slotsand move the plate a distance equal to one rack slot pitch and therebycause guiding of the wire from one mandrel slot into the next adjacentmandrel slot, a tape reader head connected with said power take-oftshaft, means in said head connected for rotary movement by said powertake-off shaft, a tape in said reader head positioned for actuation bysaid last-named means, said tape having coded information punched intoit representing the number of turns of wire to be Wound in any one ofsaid slots and the numberV of slots to have wire wound therein forforming the coils, said tape reader head means being responsive to saidcoded information and being electrically connected with said pawl formoving the latter upwardly into engagement with said rack slots andcausing selective movement of said plate longitudinally of said mandrelwhereupon said cam means causes `disengagement of said pawl from saidrack slots when said rack has been moved through said distance.

6. A coil Winding machine for forming random Wound coils comprising amotor selectively engageable with a drive shaft supporting a mandrel,slots on said mandrel for receiving Wire arranged to be wound thereinfor forming separate coils of a winding, a clutch and brake interposedbetween said motor and said drive shaft, a Wire advance mechanismpositioned adjacent said mandrel and adapted for movement longitudinallythereof land being arranged to guide the desired number of turns in thevarious slots on said mandrel, a power take-oli shaft directly connectedwith said drive shaft, means interconnecting said power take-oli shaftand said wire advance mechanism for moving the latter longitudinally ofthe mandrel at a predetermined time, a device connected with said powertake-off shaft, a component having coded information thereon associatedwith said device, said coded infomation representing start, run and stopcodes, electrical control means interconnecting said device with saidclutch and brake and with said wire advance mechanism so that when thestart code on said component is detected by said device, said controlmeans are energized to apply the clutch and de-energize the brake forpermitting operation of the mandrel with consequent guiding of wire intothe mandrel slots, said responsive device having a member driven by saidpower taire-olf shaft at the same speed as said mandrel, meansconnecting said component with said member so that every revolution ofthe mandrel is reilected in said component through said member and whenthe desired number of turns of wire has been wound in any one slot, theresponsive device detects or reads the run code and actuates the controlmeans vfor moving the wire advance mechanism to the neXt slot, and whensaid device detects said stop code on the component, the control meansis made operative to rie-energize the clutch and apply the brake forstopping operation of the machine.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein a mandrel-stopping timedelay cam is mounted on said power take-off` shaft, switch meanspositioned for actuation by said cam and having contacts in circuit withtime delay variable resistors and a coil for said brake and a speedregulator connected with said motor, whereby said resistors can beadjusted for applying the brake to the drive shaft and selectivelystopping rotation thereof in a predetermined position.

8. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said control meansincludes an emergency switch in circuit with said control meanscontrolling the brake and clutch, said emergency switch being positionedon said machine in a convenient location such that opening of the switchby an operator opens the electrical circuit including said brake andclutch for stopping rotation of the mandrel.

9. The combination according to claim i6 wherein said mandrel comprisesa pair of arms movable to an extended or a collapsed position, meansconnecting said movable arms to a power device, and -a switch in saidcontrol means and located in circuit with said power device forselectively actuating said mandrel to either an open or a closedposition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,807,199 Dear May 26, 1931 2,122,485 Nelson July S, 1938 2,335,602 NashNov. 30, 1943 2,614,588 Laycock Oct. 2l, 1952 2,736,346 Amman Feb. 28,1956 V2,762,577 Herr Sept. 11, 1956 2,835,042 Tandles et al May 20, 19582,854,856 Oppen Oct. 7, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,104 Switzerland Dec.16, 1949

1. A COIL WINDING MACHINE FOR WINDING RAMDOM WOUND COILS COMPRISING AMOTOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH A DRIVE SHAFT SUPPORTING A MANDREL,SAID MANDREL COMPRISING ARMS MOVABLE BETWEEN AN EXTENDED AND COLLAPSEDPOSITION AND HAVING WIRE RECEIVING MEANS ON THE ARMS FOR RECEIVING WIREUTILIZED IN FORMING COILS COMPRISING A WINDING, A MECHANISM MOU NTEDADJACENT SAID MANDREL FOR GUIDING WIRE INTO SAID RECEIVING MEANS, AND ADEVICE CONNECTED WITH THE MECHANISM AND RESPONSIVE TO CHANGES IN ACOMPONENT ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR CONTROLLING THE NUMBER OF TURNS OFWIRE WOUND IN EACH COIL AND THE MOVEMENT OF THE MECHANISM LONGITUDINALLYOF THE MANDREL.